"I told everybody in the Russian snowboard federation: If you guys take me, you'll never regret it," he said.

Men's Parallel Giant Slalom Medal Winners and Times

Rank

Run

Country

Name

Run 1 Dif

Run 2 Diff

1

Big Final

Russia

Vic Wild

0.54

Winner

2

Big Final

Switzerland

Nevin Galmarini

2.14

3

Small Final

Slovenia

Zan Kosir

Winner

4

Small Final

Germany

Patrick Bussler

0.72

2.26

Sochi2014.com

Paul Sonne of The Wall Street Journal reflected on Wild's win that it could have been for the United States had proper funding been in place:

Wild celebrated his remarkable victory with his wife Alena Zavarzina, who won bronze in the women's equivalent of the event:

Meanwhile, in the small final Zan Kosir of Slovenia won bronze, his first Olympic medal, while Germany's Patrick Bussler finished fourth.

Kosir overturned Bussler's early advantage in the first run to win against the odds, despite performing inconsistently and making more mistakes than his German opponent.

Zan Kosir of Slovenia picked up bronze.Filip Horvat/Associated Press

Bussler started the second run 0.72 seconds behind Kosir and made an early error to allow his opponent to open up a further lead. Although the German fought hard, he was unable to make up any significant ground on Kosir.

Wild's win marks an amazing journey from representing the United States to winning gold for his adopted country in their home games.

The 27-year-old is at the peak of his career, but like Canadian Jasey Jay Anderson, who won gold in Vancouver four years ago before failing to make the quarterfinals this time, Wild is unlikely to retain his medal in four years.